This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New "subsidiarity watchdog" proposed
06/06/2002
An enlarged Europe must ensure that it is relevant and
not remote from its citizens, European policy makers were
told today.
Speaking on a day the Convention on the Future of Europe
is meeting in Brussels, First Minister Jack McConnell
proposed that a new Subsidiarity Council be set up within
the EU to ensure that European policy and legislation
focuses on strategic issues of relevance to all Europeans.
It would act so that bodies such as national and the
Scottish parliaments are left free to frame legislation so
that it meets our own needs.
Mr McConnell said:
"It is in the interests of all the people of Europe that
we ensure Europe is the dynamic motor of peace, progress
and prosperity in the 21
st century. I want a European Union that is
relevant to Scots not remote from Scots.
"The new Subsidiarity Council would be able to stop the
EU from interfering in areas better handled a more local
level. The new Europe should be more diverse, less
centralised, recognising that we all have a part to play in
its future.
"We need to be sure that the drive to devolve
legislative power within member states is not negated by a
drift towards centralised decision making within the
EU."
The Subsidiarity Council would give an authoritative
view before EU legislation is adopted. Its members could be
selected by those involved in the implementation of EU
legislation, including national and regional Parliaments.
It should be small and should take quick decisions.
Mr McConnell added:
"The new enlarged Europe needs confident, outward
looking countries such as Scotland working within Member
States to ensure all Europeans benefit from the great
opportunities it will bring to us all - jobs, better
quality of life, better transport links, a cleaner
environment."
"We know that the citizens of Europe want peace and
security from Europe. We know that people want Europe to
tackle unemployment and fight international crime and
terror. These issues must be our core business and we must
deliver.
"Our aim is to make the EU more open, effective and
accountable. I hope my idea can help those preparing
proposals for how the new Europe should work so it is seen
as a real motor for change for all."
Jack McConnell is visiting Brussels today to meet
members of the Convention which is preparing proposals for
the Future of Europe. His proposals are being made at a
speech in Scotland House at the heart of Brussels organised
with the European Policy Centre.
One of the issues being considered in the debate on the
future of Europe is how to make the principle of
"subsidiarity" - that the EU focuses on strategic issues
best handled at the EU level and that the legislation is
framed in such a way to reflect national, regional and
local powers- more effective in the enlarged Union. This
proposal, made on a personal basis by the First Minister,
is designed to contribute to the debate on how to find a
practical and workable solution to this problem.
Further details are available at
www.scotland.gov.uk;
www.TheEPC.be;
http://european-convention.eu.int;
www.fco.gov.uk.